The Letter's End

Esther had gone back to her room for the evening, her eyes heavy with sleep as she slid out of her dress and put on a sleeping gown.

She was about to crawl into her bed when a knock gave from the door. Yawning irritably Esther frowned her eyebrows furrowing, What now…

"Enter!" the red haired girl said mid-yawn.

A page boy stood at the door a letter in his hand, "Your Majesty. A letter for you…this is the first one sent back in quite awhile so I thought you would want it now."

Esther felt her heart skip a beat as the boy handed her the letter, "Thank you. You must be tired…you are dismissed for the evening. If anyone gives your trouble tell them I allowed it. Oh and here!"

She gave the boy a handful of dinar, "Mi-milady!" but before the boy could protest she had closed the door. She went back to her bed and sat upon it leaning against the bed frame. She breathed in deeply and let it go before she tore the letter open.

Her eyes devoured the words as she read,

My love,

Esther gasped as a faint redness came over her cheeks as she read the way he had addressed her.

I will be at the ruins of the lost castle near Albion. I know it is far away but please…meet me there. I love you, Esther. I pray that you will come.

With all of my Heart,

Abel

Esther could not sleep now. She moved over to her dresser and pulled out cotton under dress and a plain soft brown dress. She dressed quickly and hastily began to look for her old commoner shoes. It was not late yet; the sun was just being to set. Esther smiled; she had plenty of time to get to the lost ruins of Albion before it got to dark.

But one thought kept giving her a faint since of dread, Will you be there?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Esther's body ached with wanting. She wanted to see him so badly it hurt. Trying to avoid question of where she was going she was going on horseback. It wasn't as far as Abel made it seem. She could already see the faint outline of the ruins as the sunset cast a ghostly shadow on them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was dark when she finally reached the ruins. The moon was bright and illuminated the high broken stone walls of the ruin. They said that this used to be a great castle before Armageddon, where a king and queen ruled the land. Now it was covered with a soft moss and vines overgrown from years of neglect.

Esther dismounted her horse not bothering to tie its reins so it would not run off. She stepped through an opening of the high walls. All that remained was a small courtyard with arches that closed off an outer hallway that formed a large circle. He grass had died away and surprisingly all that was left was a thick layer of soft green moss. Near the middle was an old large fountain. Esther went over to it and sat on its rim, there was still water in it. The stars shun against its clear surface and Esther lost herself to the beautiful ripples her touch made in the water.

Her azure eyes were hazed over with an eerie calmness. Esther knew now that it did not matter if he did not come tonight, because she would wait there forever. Her mind was wandering now, floating in the sky with the stars that mirrored in the fountain. Slowly an image of Abel came into the water. Esther smiled as she remembered his face and his looks. She touched the water where her mind had imagined his face and watched as the ripples blurred it. Esther watched expecting the image to disappear any moment now.

But it didn't.

The crimson haired girl froze; everything seemed to stop except the now furious beating of her heart. Tears burst from her eyes as she stood turning around and wrapped her arms fiercely around his waist.

"A-Abel…" she sobbed quietly as she pressed her face against his chest. She could feel his own heart beating just as wildly as her own. His arms were around her instantly. One secured around her waist going up her back and he gently placed his hand at on her neck gently rubbing his fingers against her hairline. He rested his chin on top of her head and quietly comforted her.

"Shh…I'm here. I'm here Esther."

"I thought…I thought I would never see you again!" Esther's muffled voice cried out.

Abel just smiled knowingly and gently kissed the top of her head before resting his chin on top again. "I know…"

"Abel…" Esther tried to pull away but the silver haired man held tighter, "Just…just a few more seconds…please. Just a little while longer."

Esther nodded gently before leaning against him. She listened to the rapid beating of his heart, it was then she realized he had wanted to see her just as painfully and emotionally as she had.

Finally he let go and she pulled away a little to look up at him, "Abel…I-…"

Esther felt so foolish. She had written so easily how she wanted to see him but now that she had him she didn't know what to say. Except one thing,

Giving out a heavy sigh, Esther's body relaxed and she closed her eyes for a moment and smiled before opening them again, "I love you."

Abel felt himself melt. His shoulders laxed and he gave a shuddered breath, "Esther…I thought…" he smiled, "I've waited a lifetime to hear those words be spoken to me…Esther…I love you. But…I still have to."

Esther interrupted him, "I know. You have to…or he'll destroy everything. But for right now, just for this night. I want you to be all that matters to me…I want to be all that matters to you. Just for tonight…until you can come back and stay."

Abel looked down at her.

"Abel…I love you. I was foolish though to think I could keep you-"

Abel slowly slid off his glasses and let them fall to the ground as he silenced her with his lips. Esther's eyes were wide but slowly they softened and closed as she kissed back.

Abel slowly beckoned her to part her lips, she did so and he slowly began to explore her mouth as his hands wandered over her waist. Esther pressed against him harder as her own hands slid up his front, lingering on his abdomen.

Finally he pulled away but Esther whispered, "No…" and he kissed her again letting his mouth linger over hers. Esther pulled back this time and rested her head on his chest again. She felt dizzy and warm now. Her heart hammered in her chest as did Abel's.

Slowly she felt herself slip towards the ground to rest on the soft moss, Abel following. She lay down as Abel gently brushed his lips against her neck. "Abel…I love you."

Esther shivered as he found a sensitive spot where her shoulder and neck met.

"Say it again…" Abel murmured as he felt himself beginning to change into crusnik form.

"I lo-ve you."

Abel's fangs had manifested and he had allowed them to graze against her neck causing her to stammer in surprise. He pulled back so he could look at her. Esther looked back into his pure blue eyes as he hovered above her.

"Esther…we shouldn't…I shouldn't…"

Esther wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his lips back to hers. His hand slid down her waist and rested heavily on her thigh causing her dress to push up slightly.

"Abel…I know you said you would come back. But what if you die…you've waited for me and I've waited for you. I don't want to wait anymore…I want…I want you to love me. I want a part of you…I want you to have a part of me. So if you do die, or I die before you return, I won't have died regretting never being able to be with you."

Abel listened to her his eyes hazed over with the truth of her words, "I don't want you to regret either…but you may one day regret this."

Esther smiled up at him through half closed lids, "Never." She breathed. And they both let go.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The feeling of soft moss against her skin. The burning sensations that had throbbed pleasantly within her. Softness and heat. Those were the things Esther remembered.

Her horse had been were she left it. Her lover kissed her hard pulled away then kissed her again long and slowly. He helped her unto her horse.

"Esther…I promise I will come back."

The wind slid through her crimson locks as she gazed at Abel with her brilliant blue eyes, "Make sure to write." And they shared a small laugh.

"I love you, Abel. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Esther turned and rode off. Abel watched her until she disappeared from sight. He turned the fire coming back in his eyes. His could not lose this battle. He moved forward.

The Letter's End